One of West Midlands Ambulance Service's unions, GMB, are on strike today (Wednesday 11 January) but the public have been assured that the ambulance service will still respond to incidents where there is a threat to life. 

Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, Nathan Hudson, said: "We have had productive discussions with our staffside colleagues to agree that ambulances will respond to:

• The most urgent calls such as cardiac arrests 
• Other very serious cases such as heart attacks, strokes, difficulty in breathing and maternity cases.

"In addition, staff in our non-emergency patient transport service will continue to convey vulnerable groups such as patients undertaking renal dialysis, cancer treatments, palliative care, emergency scans within the strike period timeframe."

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: "After twelve years of Conservative cuts to the service and their pay packets, NHS staff have had enough. 

"The last thing they want to do is take strike action, but the government has left them with no choice."

People are being reminded to only call 999 if you are critically unwell or there is risk to life. 

For medical advice, go to NHS 111 online or your local GP.